Snapshots: Ullmark, Morrissey, LeBreton Flats

According to the team’s general manager, Steve Staios, rumors of extension negotiations between Linus Ullmark and the Ottawa Senators may have been overblown. TSN’s Bruce Garrioch reported that Staios prefers Ullmark get comfortable with the organization before beginning any discussions.

One would surmise that Staios means more comfortability with on-ice and locker-room culture as Ullmark has already proven himself comfortable with the city by purchasing a home near the arena. Ullmark is in the last year of a four-year, $20MM contract signed with the Boston Bruins in 2021 and is transitioning to an organization that doesn’t have a similar recent track record of success.

The Senators are hoping to avoid a contract similar to that of Joonas Korpisalo whom the team signed to a five-year agreement last offseason after one solid year split between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings. Ullmark has certainly generated more credibility than Korpisalo but the Senators would still do well by taking their time. The 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner has all season to determine if he is willing to commit to the Senators organization long-term in what might be his last big payday.

Other happenings around the league:

• Shawn P. Roarke argued the 2024-25 Norris Trophy winner to be Winnipeg Jets’ defenseman Josh Morrissey in a recent debate on NHL.com. It’s taken nearly seven years for Morrissey to reach his potential but it’s now tough to argue he isn’t one of the league’s top blue-liners. He’s scored 26 goals and 145 points in his last 159 games in Winnipeg including finishing in the top-10 in Norris voting each season. Morrissey has averaged a 91.2 on-ice save percentage in all situations despite his offensive output and has proven exceptional on both sides of the puck.
• Garrioch reported in a recent article that talks are heating up between the Senators organization and the National Capital Commission for an arena deal at the LeBreton Flats location. Chief executive officer and team president Cyril Leeder recently spoke to season ticket holders saying, “We did meet with the NCC this week and we made a little bit of progress so we’ll see. We’re still talking. As I said last week, we’re hopeful we’ll find common ground, but we’ve got less than three weeks now to get there“. The Senators are certain to be more aggressive leading up to the arbitrary September 20th deadline as they look to build an arena for the first time since 1996.